James gale wilber



(No Model.) 4 a J'. G. WILBER.

CLAMP.

-No. 353,726. Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES GALE WILBER, OF STARKE, FLORIDA CLAMP.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,726, dated December '7, 1886.

Application'filed March 18, 1886. Serial No. 195,711.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JAMES GALE WILBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Starke, in the count-y of Bradford and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

- My invention relates to an improvement in clamps, adapted either for flooring or siding, or pressing glued joints; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as applied when in operation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

A represents a bar, which is provided at one end with a projecting point, B, which extends substantially at right angles from the bar. To the opposite end of the bar is pivoted a head, 0, which is free to turn on the bar for a suitable distance.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The sharpened point of the bar is forced into the upper side of the joist when laying a floor, andthe bar is moved out of line with the said joist, with the head bearing against the board which is to be forced in place. The bar is then moved or swung through a portion of acircle, which causes the head to slide on the edge of the board and force the latter into position. When the bar reaches a position parallel with the joist, the board is forced home and is retained in that position while being nailed. In order to release the clamp from the board,

itis only necessary to swing the outer end ofthe (No model.)

bar to one side, which causes the pivoted head to disengage the edge of the board, and the bar may be readily removed from the joist by withdrawing its spike projection therefrom. \Vhen applying the clapboard's to the side of a house, the clamp is used in the same manner, the sharpened point of the bar being caused to engage with one of the studs in the same manner as previously described.

By pivoting the head G on the end of the bar the head always remains parallel with the edge of the board While the bar is being moved and until the bar has been moved far enough to cause the head to entirely disengage the board.

A flooring-clamp thus constructed is extremely cheap and simple, is thoroughly efficient and practical, is easily operated, and is not likely to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- The combination, in a flooring-clamp, of the bar having one end bent at right angles and sharpened, and thereby provided with an engaging-point, and the cross-head C, pivoted to the opposite extremity of the bar and extending from opposite sides thereof in a plane at right angles to the point, substantially as described.

In testimony that I elaim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES GALE \VILBER.

\Vitnesses:

G. W. LIVINGSTON, W. LAKE. 

